Son got Foundation.
- Thread starter ProudDad2022
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USNACandidate2022
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Congratulations!
Old Navy BGO
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For those with any doubt -- NAPS and FOUNDATION are GREAT PROGRAMS.
I've posted my story before -- I was very disappointed when I got the NAPS and Foundation offers..at 18 years old it looked like a waste of a year of my life. I was one of those kids with strong tickets , Eagle Scout, Civil Air Patrol, Sports, but OK grades (at 3 different high schools), and mid range SAT's. I went to NAPS and got beat up bad academically -- I think my average in two Calculus classes at Christmas was in the 60's. I was on Academic probation, with a weekly trip down to see the Skipper. (He was a great leader, but when you are an 18 year old Seaman Apprentice, going down to see a Navy Captain to report your progress every week was uncomfortable) Then in early spring ..the light bulb came on, I began to get it..I developed strong study habits and techniques and got through the program. For me, NAPS was essentially a head start. I will never say Plebe Year was easy, as the Upperclass know who the has the head start, and adjust pressure and expectations accordingly, but I question whether I would have ever gotten through without that year at NAPS.
That is a great perspective @Old Navy BGO. These are great programs for the right individual. I sure could have used a year at a prep school to help with my maturity and give me an academic foundation that I was lacking.
My Louisiana public education did little to prepare me for the academic rigor of the service Academy. I did it the hard way walking the 1.5 to 1.7 line my first two years staying just above the cut-off for separation. It took those two years before my light bulb came on.
Now my DD who did not get in her first year, had the maturity and academic foundation to be successful. A year at prep would have been a waste of her ability. She went to a normal college, joined ROTC and was basically taking second year classes in Pre-Med.
She is now halfway through her plebe year and her grades are close to the "star on your collar" territory.
Each circumstance is different and the best advice to everyone is an honest self-assessment after you understand all the facts. No one here can tell you what is best for your kid. We can just give you different perspectives.
My Louisiana public education did little to prepare me for the academic rigor of the service Academy. I did it the hard way walking the 1.5 to 1.7 line my first two years staying just above the cut-off for separation. It took those two years before my light bulb came on.
Now my DD who did not get in her first year, had the maturity and academic foundation to be successful. A year at prep would have been a waste of her ability. She went to a normal college, joined ROTC and was basically taking second year classes in Pre-Med.
She is now halfway through her plebe year and her grades are close to the "star on your collar" territory.
Each circumstance is different and the best advice to everyone is an honest self-assessment after you understand all the facts. No one here can tell you what is best for your kid. We can just give you different perspectives.
usna1985
15-Year Member
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USMA1994 -- two different circumstances. The first is someone who is offered NAPS/Foundation. If you're offered this and you want to attend USNA, not accepting one of those programs and trying to go it on your own is stupid.
OTOH, if you receive a turndown and are NOT offered NAPS/Foundation, you are generally better off doing what your DD did -- attending a 4-year college. Prep schools are best for those who need add'l academic help, study skills, etc. There are many threads where BGOs have made this point.
Your DD had a year of college prior to attending a SA. It's easy to say -- but hard to know -- whether she would have been equally successful without that year. Maybe, maybe not. The great news is that she is successful.
OTOH, if you receive a turndown and are NOT offered NAPS/Foundation, you are generally better off doing what your DD did -- attending a 4-year college. Prep schools are best for those who need add'l academic help, study skills, etc. There are many threads where BGOs have made this point.
Your DD had a year of college prior to attending a SA. It's easy to say -- but hard to know -- whether she would have been equally successful without that year. Maybe, maybe not. The great news is that she is successful.
Sandydesert
5-Year Member
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- Aug 10, 2016
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- 212
To Prouddad2022:
Congratulations to your DS! My DS was also sent to prep school and he also chose Kiski. He is now a 3/c at USNA. He, (and we) were very, very happy with Kiski. Kiski has a long, long record of its graduates attending and succeeding at USNA. We were amazed at the maturity our DS had developed when he came back for Thanksgiving. One of Kiski's mottoes is "We turn boys into men". Captain Wallace is fantastic-he makes a point to meet with the USNAFoundation students several times a year to see how things are going and if they have any concerns.
Parents will be expected to supply their DS with towels, bedding, toiletries, laundry soap, school supplies, etc. Parents are also responsible for their son's airfare to/from home for Christmas break, spring break, etc. Your son will need a winter coat, gloves, hat for the cold weather. The beds at Kiski are twin XL. Your son will have a roommate and maybe two roommates, depending on room assignment. Kiski tries very hard to assign roommates based on compatibility -DS's roommate was also a USNA Foundation student and is also currently at USNA. DS and his KIski classmates are life-long friends now. Their Foundation year is referred to as a "post-graduate "year. DS was impressed with the beauty of the campus, how green everything was, and the fact that there were trees and grass. He was also impressed with the cooler weather and the fact that it snowed in the winter. The young men will be informed that climbing the rock cliffs on one side of the campus is strictly forbidden at all times. DS apparently had asked about climbing when he arrived.
The rigor of the academics give them an idea of what to expect at USNA.
Kiski has a dress code for class: tan/khaki dress pants , dress shirt with collar, a tie, jacket, and brown dress shoes(not gym shoes). There is a separate dress code for dinner: gray dress pants, dress shirt with collar, tie, dark blue jacket, and black dress shoes. You might want to start scouting sales.
Your son will be receiving a packet from Kiski - one of the pages lists "required" items and "recommended" items. Kiski has an arrangement with a local PA clothing company to come to the school and fit the young men with the required pants, shirts and jackets if those items are not brought from home. There will be info about that in the packet as well, including prices to purchase the items. Students are allowed to go into town a couple of times per month to purchase/restock needed items, as well as going on school outings wearing the "Kiski uniform" . If you or your DS have any questions about Kiski, please PM me and I can pass his questions along to my DS.
Congratulations to your DS! My DS was also sent to prep school and he also chose Kiski. He is now a 3/c at USNA. He, (and we) were very, very happy with Kiski. Kiski has a long, long record of its graduates attending and succeeding at USNA. We were amazed at the maturity our DS had developed when he came back for Thanksgiving. One of Kiski's mottoes is "We turn boys into men". Captain Wallace is fantastic-he makes a point to meet with the USNAFoundation students several times a year to see how things are going and if they have any concerns.
Parents will be expected to supply their DS with towels, bedding, toiletries, laundry soap, school supplies, etc. Parents are also responsible for their son's airfare to/from home for Christmas break, spring break, etc. Your son will need a winter coat, gloves, hat for the cold weather. The beds at Kiski are twin XL. Your son will have a roommate and maybe two roommates, depending on room assignment. Kiski tries very hard to assign roommates based on compatibility -DS's roommate was also a USNA Foundation student and is also currently at USNA. DS and his KIski classmates are life-long friends now. Their Foundation year is referred to as a "post-graduate "year. DS was impressed with the beauty of the campus, how green everything was, and the fact that there were trees and grass. He was also impressed with the cooler weather and the fact that it snowed in the winter. The young men will be informed that climbing the rock cliffs on one side of the campus is strictly forbidden at all times. DS apparently had asked about climbing when he arrived.
The rigor of the academics give them an idea of what to expect at USNA. Kiski has a dress code for class: tan/khaki dress pants , dress shirt with collar, a tie, jacket, and brown dress shoes(not gym shoes). There is a separate dress code for dinner: gray dress pants, dress shirt with collar, tie, dark blue jacket, and black dress shoes. You might want to start scouting sales.
Your son will be receiving a packet from Kiski - one of the pages lists "required" items and "recommended" items. Kiski has an arrangement with a local PA clothing company to come to the school and fit the young men with the required pants, shirts and jackets if those items are not brought from home. There will be info about that in the packet as well, including prices to purchase the items. Students are allowed to go into town a couple of times per month to purchase/restock needed items, as well as going on school outings wearing the "Kiski uniform" . If you or your DS have any questions about Kiski, please PM me and I can pass his questions along to my DS.
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My oldest was a foundation kid. It turned out to be the best thing that happened to him. The prep year made a huge difference when he got to Navy. Graduated at the top of his class and is now finishing flight school. Take the foundation scholarship and dont look back.
Sponsored prep at New Mexico Military for the class of 2023!He was disappointed at first to find out that he won't be going straight to Academy but he got over that quickly and is looking forward to his year at Kiski. I guess I will need to change my account name from ProudDad2022 to ProudDad2023
Anyone else get a foundation offer and does anyone have any insight about Kiski?